They sent in the clowns for Liz Taylor  but she sent them back!

That was Elizabeth Taylor, as Desiree Armfeldt, an actress somewhat past her prime, playing a ramshackle production of "Camille" in the movie version of "A Little Night Music."

This much-maligned movie, released in 1977, is better than its reputation. Despite flaws (murky cinematography, jerky editing) it has great charm. Miss Taylor offers one of her subtler and poignant latter-career performances, and Diana Rigg simply hijacks every moment on screen! The movie finally came to DVD two years ago. Now, at last, the film's soundtrack is out on CD, from Masterworks Broadway. It's lovely and especially fun to hear Diana Rigg's crisp, biting recitation of Stephen Sondheim's lyrics.

The CD's liner notes by Peter E. Jones are entertainingly snarky. We are informed of the patchwork editing (and some dubbing) of Taylor's musical numbers and her "clashes" with director Hal Prince. Hmmm. I recall that Taylor clashed instantly with the film's leading man, having him replaced by Len Cariou, who originated the role on Broadway. (But this was a chaotic time for Elizabeth. She was distraught when she learned of Richard Burton's marriage to Suzy Hunt. Then she became engaged to John Warner. Rebound! And she began to gain weight, instantly.)

Anyway, all this is a lead-in to a note I received from my longtime friend Jim Mitchell, PR guy deluxe.

He was Elizabeth's escort in the spring of 1976 to a ballet performance at Lincoln Center. This was the night Elizabeth and Jackie O met for the one and only time. (For a moment Miz Liz was hot and heavy with Ardeshir Zahedi, the Iranian ambassador to the U.S. and U.K. She had yet to meet John Warner.) So there was Elizabeth, a glamorous goddess, bustin' her bodice. As Jim recalls, "That day, she had finally memorized all the lyrics to 'Send in the Clowns.' After the ballet we went to Chez Pascal for supper. The people who were with us left and Elizabeth and I stayed for a couple more drinks. Then we got a taxi at 82nd and Lexington. In the cab, on the way to the Sherry Netherland hotel, Elizabeth sang 'Send in the Clowns,' to me, gesturing, with that mammoth diamond flashing. I think the driver thought he had died and gone to heaven!"

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